Keeping the Moon… Can you believe Shiv loves me? Let's see now when we started our journey together I was so unsure where it would lead, and now I am so sure it could not have been any better than it has been. I agree I could have done without some of the embarrassing slips and falls, and bad hair days, but who cares, right? The point is Shiv loves me.
*ding* I step out of the elevator and run out into the lobby, I have a hard time turning the corner and almost slip on the marble floors of the well lit gallery that leads to the saloon. But I am a girl on a mission I have to look beautiful, more beautiful than I have ever looked before, which should not be very difficult considering Shiv has seen me in some very disastrous hair dos and fashion statements. Huffing and puffing I come to halt before a man who could not be better groomed. His nails are polished, his hair a funky blue and black, his sleeveless tight tank exposing his muscular arms and lining out his worked out abs.
"Make… me… beautiful!" I say catching my breath.
"Honey, you are already beautiful. You just need a bit of brushing up." He tells me smiling, and glancing at me up and down.
I look back at him in a bit of daze, with my sloppy slippers, ripped and worn out jeans, red t-shirt that has bleach stains all over and not to mention crazy-has-a-mind-of-its-own hair, what does he find beautiful? I am bit sceptical as he takes my hand in his and leads me to the back of the saloon. Seating me on a very comfy reclining chair he asks me, "how much time you got honey and what is the occasion? Tell me everything."
"Well…" I take in a deep breath and then like I am going to miss a train I blurt out everything in one breath. "I married a man I did not know and fell in love with him for his kindness and sweet nature and all this time I thought he didn't care for me until this morning I found out that he does and he is the love of my life and he is going to confess his love for me tonight and I have to look more beautiful than any girl he has ever dated or seen … I have very little time only about an hour and well I need help!" Phew, I breath out.
"Girls we have a code red!" He yells. And in about a second half dozen girls assemble around me, with scissors, combs, nail polishes, creams, sprays and every other vanity accessory possible. I shut my eyes tight as the girls dive in like a hungry pride of lions on a piece of meat.
When I finally feel safe to open my eyes I look around and find the room to resemble a war front after the war is over. The girls who looked so prepared and ready earlier now lay on different chairs like wounded and exhausted soldiers, there are things strewn all over the place from a stepped on blush cake to the trimmings of my hair. In front of me stands the same man who had greeted me, witb wide grin plastered on his face he wipes a little tear as he admires me. "He will be floored!" He beams turning my chair around so I can finally catch a glimpse of myself.
The girl I now see standing in front of me pretending to be my reflection is beautiful. Her hair in loose curls, brushing against her smooth shoulders, her make up very light, accents her dark eyes, her rosy cheeks giving her a permanent blush and the light glittered lip gloss giving her smile a new dazzle. The dress she wears in heavenly, off the shoulder black dress that falls just on her knees. Little embroidered pink roses running around the bottom and with a few reaching up towards the waist. Her shoes light pink bringing out the pink of the dress and making her stand taller and feel on top of this world. "He will be floored!" I repeat to myself in a whisper.
****** I hold onto my cute little clutch purse a little tighter as I enter the dimly lit, and beautifully decorated restaurant where I will be joining Shiv, Anupam, Ipshitta, Anjali and Shashank. The hostess decides to escort me to the table and walking in I notice how the intricate mirror work on the walls twinkles as the rays from the candles on the tables reflects brilliant on them, giving the room a hypnotic ambience. The chatter on individual tables goes down to a whisper as I walk by, I wonder if it is the intoxicating scent of my perfume that had been drizzled on me as I had thanked each stylist who had helped me look my best. I feel everyone's eyes on me as heads turned to glance. However, my eyes only search for one.
There he is, with blue jeans, a white dress shirt and black dress coat, his famous causal yet dressy look. His hair gelled back and his face half shaven, he sips on a glass of wine as he shares a laugh with Anjali and Ipshitta. I stop a moment to admire him in order to engrave this moment into my memory forever. Shiv turns his head to look my way and then looks back. Maybe he didn't notice me, I am a bit disappointed, I downcast my eyes. When I lift them back up I find Shiv standing at his chair and blatantly staring at me. He continues to look at me, without a smile or any other expression other than that of a complete surprise. Only when I smile back at him and going further stand beside him does he say hi and smile back. He pulls the chair beside him so that I may take a seat there, smiling to myself I do so, happy to have such an effect on him.
"Gauri you look … just wow!" Anupam compliments me and I smile back trying to steal glances of Shiv through the corner of my eye; he seems busy reading the menu.
Soon the waiter comes beside me, hands me the menu and starts to pour wine into my glass. I glance up at him and immediately ask for a glass of water instead.
"Oh come on Gauri, I ordered this wine especially for you." I hear Shiv say, not looking up from the menu.
"But Shiv…" I nervously laugh "wine?" I emphasize trying to remind him of what we had decided last time. Everyone's attention is now on us. Placing the menu down Shiv places his right hand behind my ear and rubs my cheek with his thumb. Okay and I am officially a goner, I could faint this minute and I feel completely intoxicated, forget the wine. Who needs the wine when you have Shiv's dreamy eyes to look into? "Little bit, it will make it easier for you when we throw you into the pool after dinner." Shiv jokes, winking at Shashank. I don't laugh, and don't appreciate Shiv's joke either.
"Shiv, stop bugging her. Gauri, you have whatever you want. Waiter please get her a glass of water." Ipshitta jumps to my defence and I mouth a thank you to her.
The rest of the dinner is spent with all of them sharing old stories and jokes. Shiv ignores me for most of the time and says nothing. I play with my food and wonder why he is not saying anything. Could it be because I refused to drink the wine he ordered and he is mad? The evening isn't turning out anything like I expected it to. Shiv was supposed to shower me with compliments during dinner and then take me to the dance floor where he would confess his love for me. Rather here I am, sitting beside Shiv, yet feeling like I could not be further from him.
Finally as everyone finishes their meal and dessert, we all decide to take a walk on the beach. I don't feel like going at all, now I just want to go up to our room, put on my pajamas and roll into bed. Maybe all that happened this morning was a big illusion of my mind. You know maybe it was my mind playing a trick on me. Maybe it was a dream. Maybe this all is a dream. I pinch my arm causing myself to scream in pain.
"What happened?" Shiv worries.
"Huh…" It is real. "No…nothing. Let's go to the beach." I follow them. And the next couple hours are just as boring and depressing as dinner. Shiv continues to ignore me and laugh and joke with the others. They all seem to be a group with me left as the outsider. I can't take it any longer. "Shiv!" I yell louder than I expect, and everyone goes quiet.
"Yah…?"
"I am going to our room. I don't feel too well." Saying that I leave. Glad to be away from their gang.
Once in the room I kick my sandals off and fall onto the bed. I lay there in the dark and wonder why Shiv acted so distant and cold. Shutting my eyes I rub my temples trying to relax. Suddenly I feel a presence hovering over me. Panicked I open my eyes to find Shiv towering over me, smiling. Instantly I stand up and come face to face with Shiv.
"Are you okay Gauri?" He asks.
"Yah…"
"Then why did you come up here? Why didn't you stay on the beach with us?"
"Oh… I just…"
"You just …what?" He says coming closer, causing me to fall back onto bed. I look up at him and swallow hard, as he kneels down to me. "Gauri, you know you look very beautiful today. Only I know how I suffered through dinner and that walk on the beach with you by my side."
"You … did?"
"But now, that we are alone, I don't know how to hold back?" Shiv says, his eyes twinkling with mischief and a naughty grin playing on his lips.
"Shi…Shi…Shiv!" I put my hand before me stopping Shiv as he leans in to kiss me.
"What?" He asks wondering why I stopped him. But I have to hear him say those three words to me first.
Stuttering I start, "Shi…Shiv… I was wondering what you feel about me?"
"How do I feel about you?" I nod my head to confirm, he then continues, now standing up and turning his side to me. "Just as a friend feels for another friend."
"Just as a friend…" My heart is breaking again. "But what Ipshitta said today…"
"I knew it. She told you didn't she?" He interrogates in a calm voice placing his hand in his jean pockets and coming back closer to me.
"No…" I try to cover up my cheeks now burning up.
"You are terrible liar you know that Gauri."
"But is it true?" I probe further, my heart racing.
"What do you think?"
"What do I think?" Oh gosh if only I could think! This is what I think, I think I am in a dream, despite pinching myself half to death earlier, I still don't think this is reality because it is too good to be true. I also think Ipshitta lied to me as Shiv lied to Ipshitta about loving me. Why did he lie? Well because he has some secret motive behind it, that totally bizarre like if he confesses to me then the stars the rule his astrological sign will change their course and make his life better and more perfect, like he needs it. However, right after he confesses he must take it back, as it is the only way to keep the stars aligned that way… and then…
"Gauri?"
"Huh?"
Shiv smiles at me now, "I don't even want to know what you are thinking. Right?" He jokes, "well actually you don't want to know what I am thinking right now either…" He smiles his mischievous smile again.
Okay ladies it is time, I can't hold this truth within me any longer. Shiv looks at like that one more time, and I will sure melt and faint then and there, but before I do I have to ask him what he feels. Take a deep breath, shut my eyes, and speak… "Shiv do you love me too?"
"No!"
"What!" I open my eyes in shock and look at Shiv's unchanged expression of the same naughtiness and mischief. "I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true! Why would some like you love someone like me? You are the moon and I a small pebble of the ground…" Before I can continue any further Shiv grabs me by the waist and gently pulls me closer.
"Shhh…" He says placing his index finger on my lips. "If I am the moon you are my sky. If you are a pebble than I the dirt. Whatever, we are, we are nothing without each other. At least I am not. You Gauri are my life, my love, my everything. And without you…" Now I can't help it, and I let out a little giggle and then trying to conceal my rejoicing I press my lips together. "Gauri…" Shiv narrows his eyes at me, and then pushes me back. Pointing his finger at me he continues, "Ipshitta! Ipshitta put you up to this!"
"She told me it was the only way you would confess before me!"
"I can't believe you would deceive me like this Gauri. I am so heart broken. How can I carry a relationship with you when I can't trust you anymore?" Shiv burries his head into his hands and I feel terrible. What have I done!
"Shiv… I am so sorry. I didn't…" He looks up and has a naughty grin on his face.
"Well Gauri you are just going to have to pay the price now!" He says coming closer and closer. "And this time I am not going to be the one to unbutton my shirt!"
"Shiv!" I yell, running out of the room. Jumping over the table I dodge the couch. He follows, then running back into the room I hop onto the bed but before I can get to the other side, Shiv grabs my arm and we both lose our balance landing right onto the bed. Suddenly all the laughter ceases and as we catch our breath I avoid Shiv's gazing eyes on me.
"You are trapped Gauri!" he announces, I say nothing, and downcast my eyes. Shiv comes close very close to me. His lips brush my lips and I expect him to kiss me, but then he sits up.
"Shiv?"
"Gauri, I just want to finish what I was saying… I love you. I love you a lot. I don't know when I fell for you. Wait here a second…" Shiv walks to his suitcase and after much searching pulls out a white shirt with a bunch of paint on it. I recognize it at once. "I have a feeling it was love at first sight Gauri. Because if it wasn't I wouldn't have kept this shirt would I have?" Clasping my right hand over my mouth I grab the shirt from Shiv and can't believe he actually kept the shirt, he even brought it to Goa.
"It's your turn now." He nudges me lightly, taking his seat beside me. I look into his eyes and smile.
"I love you too." Shiv leans in and kisses me, then in true K-style all the lights that are already very dim, dim even more, so much that nothing else can be seen.
What? You didn't actually expect me to tell you everything now did you? Come on girls, you have to wait to find your own Shiv Kapoor, in order to find out what happens next. But before I sign off here, I want to leave you with a little piece of advice and this time it is not from any K-show, rather something that was once told to me long time ago and today it is making a lot of sense. 'Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land up in the stars.' However, if you are as lucky as me, you might just get to keep the moon. 😉
*************************************Well you guessed it, this is the end of the keeping the moon... and in my opinion this is was my least fav. part... 😔... I will come back to give replies to the comments but right now I got to run to a workshop I got to attend...hopefully you all enjoy this part more than I enjoyed writting it 😔 ...it is true...I really did not feel the 'zing' I normally feel while writing new parts for Keeping the moon...maybe cuz it is the last part...😔...but I got to run now... hope you all like... and please do let me know what you thought of the fan-fic over all...any suggestions, improvements etc...would love to hear it all...😃 ....THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY COMMENTS...🤗 Edited by Saregama_fan - 18 years ago
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